Barcelona return to La Liga action tomorrow afternoon when they lock horns with UD Las Palmas at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Montjuic.
Having failed to win their previous two league matches against Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo, Hansi Flick & co. will be eager to get things back on the right track in the domestic competition in the hope of stretching their lead atop the table.
However, Las Palmas manager Diego Martinez is planning to pull off a surprise tomorrow in Catalonia against the league leaders.
Martinez praises Barça but has a plan to defeat them
Speaking to the media earlier today, Las Palmas boss Diego Martinez spoke highly of Hansi Flick’s Barcelona, particularly highlighting their high-pressing system.
Indeed, the Las Palmas boss called Barcelona “a benchmark in pressing after losing the ball.”
In his opinion, this is one of the ‘tactical registers’ that the Catalan team has improved with the arrival of the German coach on the bench.
Martinez outlined his strategy to potentially surprise Barcelona away this Saturday, insisting his team’s focus must be to “play the perfect match” while hoping that the Blaugrana “do not have their day.”
Martinez has a plan to defeat Barcelona. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
The Las Palmas head coach acknowledged that his team will need to “resist and know how to suffer” against an opponent that will “demand their best”.
To pull off a surprise result, Martinez emphasised the importance of “being precise in both boxes” and remaining “in the match for as long as possible”, which would give his team a chance to secure points.
He also pointed out that one potential weakness in the Barcelona defence could be the space left open by their high defensive line, although to exploit this, his team would need to be “very precise” once they regain possession.
“We have to try to take advantage of the spaces they leave; when they have suffered the most is with five or fewer passes against them, but we also have to be very firm in individual duels and generous in defensive support,” he said.
The coach was also asked about Barcelona’s Pedri, a former player of Las Palmas. He described the midfielder as a “top player” for both his club and the Spanish national team, and lamented that this Saturday his team will “unfortunately” face him.
Source: Mundo Deportivo